Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said he reviewed a new police investigation and determined that victim’s claim can’t be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. “Therefore, no charges will be forthcoming,” Wolfson said in a statement.
Ronaldo’s attorney, Peter Christiansen, was traveling Monday and not immediately available to comment. Christiansen has said Ronaldo and the victim had consensual sex in 2009. He denied it was rape. Attorneys for the victim, who is a former model and schoolteacher, did not immediately respond to telephone, text and email messages.
She has a lawsuit pending against Ronaldo in US court in Las Vegas that accused Ronaldo or those working for him of conspiracy, defamation, breach of contract and coercion and fraud. She says they allowed terms of a confidential financial settlement with the victim to become public.
The victim’s attorney, Leslie Mark Stovall, has acknowledged that victim received $375,000 in hush money following the encounter. He maintained that agreement was made under pressure from “fixers” trying to protect Ronaldo’s reputation.
The lawsuit seeks to void the agreement and collect at least $200,000 more from Ronaldo. Ronaldo, who plays in Italy for the Turin-based soccer club Juventus, is one of the most recognizable and highly paid players in sports.
The victim underwent a medical exam to collect DNA evidence shortly after she says Ronaldo assaulted her in June 2009. She spoke again with police for the new investigation, and authorities this year obtained a sample of Ronaldo’s DNA through Italian authorities.
Police said the initial investigation was closed in 2009 because the victim only identified her attacker as a European soccer player, not by name, and did not say where she claims the rape took place.
The investigation was reopened in last year at the request of her attorneys, shortly before they sued Ronaldo.